Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United: Women's Super League – as it ...
![Arsenal 31 Manchester United Womens Super League as it](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=%2Fuploads%2Fnews%2F54%2F5459%2F3%2F5459372-arsenal-3-1-manchester-united-womens-super-league-as-it.jpg&w=750&hash=234e646f68360fb3eea02d70349ac3a1)
I’ll leave you with Sophie Downey’s match report. Thanks for reading!
Here’s how the table looks…
Arsenal are now just three points adrift of Chelsea and Manchester City at the top of the table. Meanwhile, Manchester United have dropped seven points behind the top three in a huge blow to their hopes of Champions League qualification.
Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Chelsea Women | 14 | 28 | 34 |
2 | Man City Women | 14 | 28 | 34 |
3 | Arsenal Women | 14 | 18 | 31 |
4 | Man Utd Women | 14 | 13 | 24 |
5 | Liverpool FC Women | 13 | -2 | 19 |
Arsenal winger Cloé Lacasse tells BBC Sport: “This was massive for us to come here with a sold-out Emirates, get the victory and keep us in contention. It’s a great way to lead into the international break.
“We knew we wanted to dominate physically, technically, emotionally. We kept our heads and once we got the goal I think we carried the momentum forward.
“Now going forward we’ll focus on ourselves, getting the three points. We’re in contention and we’ll keep fighting to the end to get those points.”
Arsenal set another WSL attendance record today, with 60,160 fans turning out at the Emirates Stadium. A monumental moment for the league and for women’s football.
![A view of the scoreboard which reads](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.guim.co.uk%2Fimg%2Fmedia%2Fd779bc8889e337cfdf621c0c9b821ca95d5a5df2%2F0_0_5008_3339%2Fmaster%2F5008.jpg%3Fwidth%3D465%26dpr%3D1%26s%3Dnone&w=728&hash=0e216e015bdc208ff8c3636bd90deab1)
Manchester United captain Katie Zelem tells Sky Sports: “We weren’t good enough today, it’s plain and simple. 3-0 down at half time you’ve got a mountain to climb. To score three goals in one half is pretty much impossible. We gave it a good go but our first half wasn’t good enough.”
Arsenal’s WSL title hopes have been reignited thanks to that huge win over Manchester United. Jonas Eidevall’s side needed to capitalise on Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester City and they did just that in stunning style.
They are now just three points behind the top two with both teams still to play. This race has just been blown wide open.
A statement win for Arsenal keeps their title hopes alive on a record-breaking day at the Emirates Stadium.
![Arsenal's Cloe Lacasse celebrates scoring their side's third goal of the game during the Barclays Women's Super League match at the Emirates Stadium.](/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fi.guim.co.uk%2Fimg%2Fmedia%2Ff18a7933aaa5cbc77c6e01bebd48899cbd2b5e40%2F0_0_3077_2051%2Fmaster%2F3077.jpg%3Fwidth%3D465%26dpr%3D1%26s%3Dnone&w=728&hash=c107bfa40e7839d29e60b4ebf31f76cb)
90+9 min: Arsenal are just looking to keep the ball in the corner now while the clock ticks down. Just a few seconds remaining.
The ball is crossed into the Arsenal penalty area, but D’Angelo completely misses the catch and it falls to García at the back post, who simply taps it into an empty net.
90+4 min: Lia looked as though she would be introduced in place of Wälti for the remainder of the game, but she has returned to the bench for the final stages.
90 min: Manchester United have a free kick on the edge of the box following a foul on Malard from Foord. The Arsenal winger is also booked for kicking the ball away. Nothing comes of the resulting free kick, but Wälti goes to ground following a clash of heads.
Six minutes have been added on…
88 min: Arsenal are just looking to see out this game in possession right now. Very comfortable on the ball and they are in no rush to go for a fourth.
84 min: Another substitution for Arsenal as Foord replaces Catley. The full-back appeared to be affected by a head injury before leaving the pitch, likely as a result of that last Manchester United attack.
82 min: A new record has been set. Arsenal have just announced that 60,160 spectators are in attendance at the Emirates Stadium today – another monumental milestone for the WSL.
80 min: Big chance for Manchester United as García breaks into the box. Catley attempts to head the ball clear but misses it and the United star dives in to get her shot way, but D’Angelo claims it.
77 min: Another substitution, this time for Manchester United as Malard replaces Parris. The England star has enjoyed a prolific season so far, but she failed to hit the target against her former club.
75 min: Another two changes for Arsenal. Miedema is on to replace Little and Maanum replaces Mead. Two very strong changes from the hosts.
71 min: Chance for Manchester United now as Zelem picks up the ball in midfield. Toone takes over on the edge of the box and passes it wide to Parris, who goes for goal but her effort is off-target.
The visitors have also made another substitution, with Ladd replacing Naalsund.
68 min: Another big chance for Arsenal as Mead makes a positive run down the right before sending the ball through to Lacasse. The Canadian’s first touch takes her a bit too wide and Earps can get across to make the save.
67 min: Here she is… Russo is on to face her former club. She replaces Blackstenius up front.
64 min: Manchester United have made another change. Williams is on to replace Geyse. The Manchester United forward was unlucky in the build-up to Arsenal’s opening goal and was given few opportunities in attack for the visitors.
62 min: This is a defensive disaster from Manchester United! Lacasse sends the ball through to Blackstenius, who is given plenty of space to line up a shot. Earps makes herself big to save the effort, but the visitors fail to make the clearance.
The ball finds McCabe in the box, who sets it back to Mead. The winger goes for goal but her effort rattles the post! A huge let-off for Manchester United.
60 min: Arsenal have a corner. McCabe delivers it into the box but it runs straight through and past Cooney-Cross at the back. The midfielder chases the ball but it runs out of play.
58 min: McCabe receives the ball high up the pitch on the right and cuts back before sending a dangerous cross into the box. Blackstenius goes for it, but Earps gets just in front to make the save.
55 min: A lapse in concentration among the Manchester United squad sees the ball drift out of play. Catley immediately picks it up and looks to take the throw, but Arsenal fail to make the most of it.
52 min: Wubben-Moy’s clearance is intercepted by Geyse and the forward makes her way into the penalty area. She goes to cross the ball but Wubben-Moy gets recovers to block it.
50 min: Wubben-Moy is booked for a pull on Geyse. Manchester United have a free kick in midfield and look to keep possession, but they struggle to progress up the pitch.
49 min: The hosts continue to look very comfortable and confident on the ball. They look to break forward at pace in a sudden change of tempo, but Blackstenius is flagged offside.
We’re back under way at the Emirates Stadium!
Jonas Eidevall has just revealed to Sky Sports that Pelova picked up a “minor knock” before the break and will be replaced by Cooney-Cross for the second half.
Galton is also set to be introduced for Evans.
Here’s a look at Arsenal’s second goal…
Well-worked from the hosts, but defensively disastrous for Manchester United.
Lacasse DOUBLES Arsenal's lead from close range ✅✅ pic.twitter.com/mtepY9XVY7
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) February 17, 2024\n\n"}}" config="{"renderingTarget":"Web","darkModeAvailable":false}">Lacasse DOUBLES Arsenal's lead from close range ✅✅ pic.twitter.com/mtepY9XVY7
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) February 17, 2024
Arsenal’s starting line-up raised a few eyebrows ahead of the match, but the changes Jonas Eidevall made have certainly paid off. The hosts have been very threatening on the attack, punishing Manchester United on several occasions.
Marc Skinner’s side now have a mountain to climb in the second half.
The hosts have a comfortable lead at the break.
45+4 min: Mead makes a great run into the box before shooting from a tight angle and forcing a save from Earps. There is a brief scramble before Manchester United eventually make the clearance.